Joey Votto, 1B: Not only did Votto play for the World Team in the Futures Game in 2006 and 2007, we also interviewed him at the 2007 Rookie Career Development Program.

Brandon Phillips, 2B: When the 2002 season started, Phillips was a Montreal Expos prospect. Just a couple of weeks before his appearance in that year’s Futures Game in Milwaukee, he was traded to Cleveland (along with Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee in the Bartolo Colon deal.

Jose Reyes, SS: Reyes actually played second base for the World Team in the 2002 Futures Game and won MVP honors for his big triple. Hmmm, Grant Green just won Futures MVP this year and he moved over to second for the game… maybe more guys will volunteer to make the switch.

Pablo Sandoval, 3B/1B: Panda played in the 2006 and 2008 Futures Games and we also interviewed him at the 2009 Rookie Career Development Program.

Starlin Castro, SS: The Cub played in the 2009 Futures Game in St. Louis. The following year, he was a ROY candidate.

Ryan Braun, OF: It started with a feature on Braun while he was at the University of Miami prior to the 2005 Draft, it continued with the Futures Game in 2006, and then AFL that same year.

Jay Bruce, OF: We miked Bruce up at the Florida State League All-Star Game back in 2007, then interviewed him at the 2008 Rookie Career Development Program, where he was also a part of our feature on the outfielders from the 2005 Draft class who were at the RCDP that year.

Hunter Pence, OF: Pence played in the 2006 Futures Game in Pittsburgh and in the AFL.

Andrew McCutchen, OF: He was a 2008 Futures Gamer (and one of the 2005 Draft outfielders who wasn’t at the RCDP in 2008), and since I’m a Pittsburgh guy, I get to watch, and talk to, him regularly.

Justin Upton, OF: Upton was part of that RCDP feature linked to above and he homered in the 2007 Futures Game in San Francisco.

Shane Victorino, OF: Seeing Victorino at the All-Star Game again is one of my favorite things here. Victorino was a two-time Rule 5 pick and we once joked about having to re-name the rule after him. We also interviewed him at the 2006 Rookie Career Development Program.

Andre Ethier, OF: Ethier was the 2005 winner of the AFL Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award. Just a short time after the AFL season ended, Ethier was traded from the A’s to the Dodgers.

Matt Cain, RHP: Too bad I missed that 2004 Futures Game, huh?

Jair Jurrjens, RHP: Back in 2007, we traveled to Erie, Pa. to talk to this young right-hander from Curacao. He was pitching for the SeaWolves, the Tigers’ Double-A affiliate. He got traded that offseason to the Braves.

Clayton Kershaw, LHP: In 2007, we went to Michigan and the Great Lakes Loons to check out the new ballpark and interview the then 19-year-old during his first full season of pro ball. He pitched in the Futures Game that season as well.

Tim Lincecum, RHP: Back in 2006, when Lincecum was a curiosity of sorts coming out of the University of Washington, he did a Draft journal for us.

Big J,
Is there someplace where I can easily see the number of games played at position(s) for players in minors? I’m look ing for players in the AL that might of played a fluke game at 2b or ss while in the minors.
.
Also…who do you think are the top trade chips for Boston?
Thanks
X

No real place that has a ton of that, though I think Baseball-Reference has a pretty solid positional breakdown for guys in the minors.

As for the Red Sox, I’ve got a story coming out tomorrow on potential prospects being mentioned in trade talks. They don’t have a ton in terms of elite guys, unless they feel like they’re willing to deal Ranaudo or Iglesias (which I don’t think they will). Still, they do have some good arms (Doubront) and bats (Middlebrooks?) that I’m sure are garnering some interest.

I like both.
Can you put a link in the blog to the story so it will be easy to find? You may have this in the story.. but can you add some names you think might be in talks but not in the rumor web pages.
Thankx
MM

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